UC San Diego Hosts Military Pathways to College Success Conference

San Diego area universities join forces to showcase higher education opportunities for veterans

UC San Diego will host Military Pathways to College Success—a one-stop higher education conference for military service members and their families—on Sat., Feb. 22 at the campus’s Price Center East Ballroom. The conference, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is designed to showcase the many transfer options available to service members, veterans and their dependents who are attending, or planning to attend, a four-year university by way of a California community college.

"We are pleased to provide our region’s veterans with the tools they need to pursue a college education,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Student veterans enrich college campuses, bringing valuable life experience to the classroom and an unparalleled dedication to service.”

At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet admissions representatives from UC San Diego as well as other higher education institutions in the region including University of San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal State San Marcos and others.  The conference will include workshops on college admissions, financial aid and career opportunities, as well as a student veteran panel and a “fun zone” for children two-years and older.

The Military Pathways to College Success conference will feature a welcome address from Khosla. The keynote speaker will be Assembly member Rocky Chávez (R-78), who retired after 28 years in the Marine Corps and whose district in North County San Diego includes Camp Pendleton. He serves as vice chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs and Higher Education committees.

UC San Diego has implemented many initiatives to support student veterans as the student population on campus has increased in recent years. Currently, there are 251students who are veterans and active duty military on campus, up from 221 last year. This fall, the campus unveiled its new Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC). Located on the second floor of the Student Center, the SVRC includes 1,600 square feet of lounge, meeting, office and kitchen space. A full-time staff member has been hired to provide support services to student veterans in this location.

UC San Diego is ranked among the top 15 percent of the nation’s military-friendly schools by G. I. Jobs magazine for embracing veterans as students. The results are based on university initiatives to assist student veterans, including: financial aid benefits, additional support to the campus Student Veteran Organization, special orientations for new student veterans and early enrollment privileges.

For more information and to register, please visit the Military Pathways to College Success web page.